Crossword Genius

Very friendly alien in copse (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

thicket

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'copse' is the definition.
(I know that copse can be written as thicket)

'very friendly alien' is the wordplay.
'very friendly' becomes 'thick' (I've seen this before. I am not sure about the 'very' bit.).
'alien' becomes 'et' (extraterrestrial).
'thick'+'et'='THICKET'

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for thicket that I've seen before include "Dense group of trees or bushes" , "Dense growth of bushes" , "Coppice" , "Mass of shrubs and bushes growing close together" , "Mass of shrubs and small trees growing close together" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app